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On Friday I went along to a rehearsal for Christmas concert of a concert band I regularly play, but am not really a member as such and was straight away on arrival asked if I would play solo of "Tuba Smarties". Although I had heard the work with brass band in the past, I have never played, or even seen the solo part. I had my Neptune, but always up for a challenge said I would give it a go.

I only had time for a quick look through the part before rehearsal, so sight read it with the band. I know the solo was originally written for EEb bass, but as I played it, I thought how well it works with big contrabass tuba - slow lyrical passage to show of the rich tone of the Neptune and more mobile 6/8 section to show it can be nimble too.

When I got home I listened to recording with brass band and I know I am bias, but to my ears it sounds much more suited to a 6/4 CC, than EEb Bass

I just thought I would mention for those looking for solo for contrabass tuba to play with band.

Jonathan "who does not mind being different!"

Neptune wrote:When I got home I listened to recording with brass band and I know I am bias, but to my ears it sounds much more suited to a 6/4 CC....
Jonathan "who does not mind being different!"

Isn't almost everything

I played a transcription of that piece once on a BBb sousaphone for a larger brassband concert (a very well known Danish guy made his own arrangement of this tune for us to play). Using a sousaphone made me more mobile for the "show" part of tune, and made my bell face the audience. I don't think that the tuba sound is the essential part of this piece.

Søren wrote:I played a transcription of that piece once on a BBb sousaphone for a larger brassband concert (a very well known Danish guy made his own arrangement of this tune for us to play). Using a sousaphone made me more mobile for the "show" part of tune, and made my bell face the audience. I don't think that the tuba sound is the essential part of this piece.

Bønne?

Oh Jonathan, I think that "Tuba Smarties" was the greatest ever travesty committed against the tuba and its players, Herbie Flowers is a great musician, but a lousy tuba player, and tuba smarties confirmed the latter. I am, however pleased that you had some fun with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5yesEEp ... L&index=20

just in case anyone doesn't believe me

peter birch wrote:I think that "Tuba Smarties" was the greatest ever travesty committed against the tuba and its players

Well, I will grant you it is not high art But remember it is for a Christmas concert


Having said that, I really think it is not a bad piece to show off a big tuba - which will impress by its sound and presence without jumping through hoops. Played on an EEb, I would consider it, let's say, rather simple

Jonathan "who is not impressed by that YouTube video"

Neptune wrote:

peter birch wrote:I think that "Tuba Smarties" was the greatest ever travesty committed against the tuba and its players

Well, I will grant you it is not high art But remember it is for a Christmas concert


Having said that, I really think it is not a bad piece to show off a big tuba - which will impress by its sound and presence without jumping through hoops. Played on an EEb, I would consider it, let's say, rather simple

Jonathan "who is not impressed by that YouTube video"

You were asked to play it, so please don't think that I am critical of you, but just because it is Christmas it no excuse for programme planners to serve up rubbish music (Christmas Swingalong also comes to mind).
I am sure that it would sound impressive in your hands, and I too was not impressed by the video, Parc and Dare at that time was a top band in the UK, which I think reinforces what a poor pice of music it is.

I bet if "you" played it Jonathan it was great!! I of course being no expert but also no elitist thought it was nice.. a full sound except for a few blurps near the high notes but all and all a nice piece I was more interested in what horn he was using and also the mouthpiece ..sure looked large as did the horn that looked like he was having trouble holding it... Do they have stand up tuba holders??......................................................bigbob

The tuba looks like a Besson Sovereign 982 Eb 3+1 compensator. The mouthpiece looks like a first generation Denis Wick, but it is hard to tell which #. The DW 3L was what used to come with that model.

Klaus

I don' t think it's the worst ever. Nothing to write home and brag about, but still. It's a pleasant enough tune, one that people who are unfamiliar with the instrument, or skeptical about solo possibilities, will appreciate.

Nothing to get excited about, in my opinion. I haven't performed it, but I would. I'd want to follow it with something more involved, Carnival or Blue Bells or something possibly, to complete the circle of showing off.

imperialbari wrote:The tuba looks like a Besson Sovereign 982 Eb 3+1 compensator. The mouthpiece looks like a first generation Denis Wick, but it is hard to tell which #. The DW 3L was what used to come with that model.

Klaus

I think it looks more like the 981, with the straight lead pipe and no carriage rings. It would have been better to sit down to play rather than to struggle as our friend did in this perfprmance

peter birch wrote:

imperialbari wrote:The tuba looks like a Besson Sovereign 982 Eb 3+1 compensator. The mouthpiece looks like a first generation Denis Wick, but it is hard to tell which #. The DW 3L was what used to come with that model.

Klaus

I think it looks more like the 981, with the straight lead pipe and no carriage rings. It would have been better to sit down to play rather than to struggle as our friend did in this perfprmance

Yes it is a 1st generation 981 with the straight leadpipe. I was looking at the receiver area which is unlike my 2nd generation 981 with the the same leadpipe curves as the 982, but with the leadpipe expanding right after the receiver.

It is a of some age and of uncertain fidelity. That may be the reason why I find the sound lacking the fulness i would expect from a 981.

Klaus

Søren wrote:I played a transcription of that piece once on a BBb sousaphone for a larger brassband concert (a very well known Danish guy made his own arrangement of this tune for us to play). Using a sousaphone made me more mobile for the "show" part of tune, and made my bell face the audience. I don't think that the tuba sound is the essential part of this piece.

Bønne?

Yes indeed. He actually also made some very nice set of ragtimes composed featuring different brassband instruments. The tuba solo "Les Beever's Rag" and the 3 trombone piece "Bones Rag" are actually really good tunes. And also playable for intermediate players.

A compilation CD of some of his arrangements can be found here:

http://musik.tdconline.dk/servlets/2452 ... id=2023431#" target="_blank

Press "Musiknumre" and you can hear the samples.

I am actually playing BBb tuba on this CD. Not the best recording, but fun none the less.
For the geeks, the horn I used was a 4v Melton something that I found in the basement of the conservatory. Nobody there wanted to play that instrument because it only had 4 valves and was in BBb...... I lubed the valves and the horn was rather good. In tune and easily playable.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh tuba smarties..as previously mentioned Herbie Flowers , amazing musician and composer...tuba smarties the fromagiest of fromage of all tuba pieces , the arrangement was done by the conductor Denzil Stephens in the early 1980's...the Sarnia music sets are provided with Eb / Bb and a bass clef version...got a version of Dave " Tojo " Owen playing it with the Point of Ayr Colliery Band in 1986 taken from the bands first album " The Blue And the Gray " some fine playing from Tojo on this album..Hugh Williams on the other hand was I think the tuba player with the cory band for years and won the first Granada Band of the year solo prize in 1971 with a performance of edrich sieberts " Bombastic Bombardon"...

imperialbari wrote:

peter birch wrote:

imperialbari wrote:The tuba looks like a Besson Sovereign 982 Eb 3+1 compensator. The mouthpiece looks like a first generation Denis Wick, but it is hard to tell which #. The DW 3L was what used to come with that model.

Klaus

I think it looks more like the 981, with the straight lead pipe and no carriage rings. It would have been better to sit down to play rather than to struggle as our friend did in this perfprmance

Yes it is a 1st generation 981 with the straight leadpipe. I was looking at the receiver area which is unlike my 2nd generation 981 with the the same leadpipe curves as the 982, but with the leadpipe expanding right after the receiver.

It is a of some age and of uncertain fidelity. That may be the reason why I find the sound lacking the fulness i would expect from a 981.

Klaus

that could well be because a week or 2 earlier they were playing older imperials. As I remember, going from an imp to a sovereign needed a period of readjustment.

eupher61 wrote:I'd want to follow it with something more involved

I am likely to play the Gregson with that band next year - so want to keep in

For the merits of Tuba Smarties - I think like most music, it is what one makes out of it. I will try to use it as a vehicle to show off the Neptune as a solo instrument with a bit of Christmas cheer.

You may think it cheesy, but I am sure the kids (and a lot of the adults) will love it!


We don't always want to take ourself so seriously - I think John Fletcher said the tuba is a comic instrument.

Well did Tuba Smarties this evening. After only one rehearsal it was not a perfect performance by me, or the band (some of which had never played piece before!), but it was obvious the audience, particularly the kids, really loved. They sat there enthralled!

Here is what it sounds like on Neptune (the one for sale!) with concert band;
http://www.humyo.com/F/9306289-2307733861

That was really great Neptune!! Big full sound.wonderful.. Thanks..................................................bigbob